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Guiding Neutral Atoms

N. H. Dekker, C. S. Lee, V. Lorent, J. H. Thywissen, M. Drndic, S. P. Smith, R. M. Westervelt, M. Prentiss

physics.atom-pharXiv:physics/9908029

Abstract

We demonstrate the guiding of neutral atoms by the magnetic fields due to microfabricated current-carrying wires on a chip. Atoms are guided along a magnetic field minimum parallel to and above the current-carrying wires. Two waveguide configurations are demonstrated: one using two wires with an external magnetic field, and a second using four wires without an external field. These waveguide geometries can be extended to integrated atom optics circuits, including beamsplitters.

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